Notes from the CANDO Board’s Strategic Planning Session June 19, 2008 The session was convened at 6:15 p.m. at Hosmer Public Library. Directors Present: Mark Eggen, Kori Hennessy, Scott Hofer, Sarah Klein, Ryan Knoke, Darrell Lett, Brad Mattson, Greg McMoore, Sierra Leone Samuels, Montana Scheff, Javontae Starks, Victor Suarez, Raho Warsame. Directors Excused: Penny Bennett, Marshall Wylie. Staff Present: Jim Parsons. Facilitator Present: Sheryl Kabat, Central Weed & Seed. Members Present: Wizard Marks. Introduction: Directors each said what brought him or her to Central neighborhood. Excerpts: one director was looking for a “amenity-rich, walkable, neighborhoody” place to live; another knew Park and Portland Avenues as a child, calling them “the tunnel roads” because of their canopy of mature elm trees; another graduated from Central High School, the neighborhood’s namesake; another remembers the African-American club called “the Nacirema,” which is “American” backwards; another said she was looking for a neighborhood that could “break the mold and be unlike any other neighborhood.” What CANDO Is Now • • • • • • • • •

A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) (said tongue-in-cheek) A much bigger entity (in its scope) than just the NRP With growth, there is freedom A voice in the neighborhood A work in progress Identity crisis: is CANDO new or does CANDO have baggage? A quasi-start-up organization: CANDO has some aspects of the beginning phase of an organization’s life Growth opportunities yet to be realized CANDO is pulled in a lot of directions, has many masters to serve 1

What CANDO May Become • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sustainable Independent of a single source of funds Remain inclusive Written about Put CANDO office in a central location in the neighborhood, such as 35th Street & 4th Avenue Give credit to one another and bring more people in CANDO should pay attention to a sense of urgency, but pace itself See the community bring forward projects that are doable Make sure projects are exciting to a variety of residents Expand the base of active volunteers and CANDO members (stay realistic) Have ideas driven through committees Focus on how to be successful in a diverse community Together we can do anything

Collecting Input Kabat said it is important to market CANDO’s strategic plan and vision to the community, while gathering input, such as the survey done by Weed & Seed in 2007. CANDO has to address the questions of how to communicate with diverse groups, how to be culturally competent. Kabat said CANDO should integrate the work of its three committees so there is no disconnect between them. Seeing the issue of safe streets as one that affects what the Housing Committee is trying to accomplish, for example, can help CANDO address some people’s perception of Central as a tough neighborhood. • • • • • •

Strive to approach people even if it is uncomfortable Use a variety of collection methods Share thoughts/strategies among and between committees Talk to neighbors Talk to other/previous board members who can help Offer a marketing strategy for buy-in

Road Map 1. Read the Central Neighborhood Action Plan 2. Have a meeting to discuss CANDO’s part in that plan, including new blood for fresh perspectives 3. Begin talking and spreading the word about CANDO’s 5-year planning process 4. Write up each committee’s plan 2

Road Map (continued) 5. Write up the overall plan and discuss it at a board meeting – have members review the plan before the meeting and publish/advertise the plan and the meeting, noting that the plan is a draft 6. Make adjustments as a result of step 5. 7. Have a final approval meeting in September 8. Ratification by the CANDO membership in October Directors discussed the idea that in addition to a plan for each committee, CANDO’s overall plan needs a plan for its general operations, including marketing, personnel and finances. McMoore as Personnel Committee chairperson and Bennett as Treasurer should be involved in that part of the plan. McMoore added that the plan should include mechanisms for accountability and evaluation, so that program outcomes are measured and evaluated. Timeline July

First draft of complete product (five-year strategic plan for CANDO)

August

Special community meeting for review, input and change

September

Final approval by CANDO board at meeting that includes the community

October

Ratification by the community, that is, CANDO’s membership, at CANDO’s annual meeting

The session was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

3